To all of you out there with a sweet tooth, including myself, for many years, our spring-time focus is on the addictive white or brown delight called SUGAR. Next month, our SRINA subscription will focus on the deconstruction of our sugar cravings! Recently, we had an exciting afternoon in Brooklyn sharing SRINA Tea with the lovely Sonia Jackson Myles & The Sister Accord, where we challenged the audience of women and high school girls to sip their first taste of SRINA tea without sugar. “Are you kidding me, Monaqui? I want some sugar in my tea!” was the response of one of the young ladies attending the event. I shared that I completely understand as a recovering sugar lover. My early tea drinking days included at least 1 teaspoon of sugar in my tea. However, after years of sipping SRINA organic green tea leaves, I have come to need only two ingredients in my cup… tea leaves and water. I have come to appreciate the crisp, earthy, and smooth taste of organic green tea leaves freshly brewed in my cup. I realized that my reason for drowning my tea with the addictive white/brown delight in the past was often due to the bitter, hard taste of many commercial green teas without sugar. I needed sugar in my tea to make it taste better and come alive. These days I simply drop a teaspoon of Srina green tea leaves in my cup, pour hot water and enjoy. Over time, I have slowly re-educated my palate to be a discerning tea drinker. Does your palate require a sweetener in your tea to make it taste better? As we approach Spring, let’s all take the SRINA palate challenge — try your tea without sugar or any sweetener. Do you enjoy the taste? Can your tea stand alone with nothing but water? Can you drink and enjoy the pure, natural taste?